LATIN AMERICAN ENSEMBLE
Gabriel Espinosa, director

The Latin American Ensemble of Grinnell College was founded in the fall of 2001. Primarily comprised of college students and directed by a professor of music, the Ensemble has performed a variety of styles of latin music including bolero, son, cha, tango and Brazilian folk song. Each semester the group focuses on a different style of latin music, and the selected pieces are presented to the Grinnell community at the end of each term. In addition to the end-of-semester concerts, the ensemble has performed for a variety of local organizations: as part of "cruise night" at the retirement and nursing home community; in compliment of a Brazilian art exhibit at the Faulconer Gallery; for the Cinco de Mayo celebration at a local restaurant; and as part of the annual talent show organized by the College’s International Student Organization.

For the fall of 2004, the Latin American Ensemble has chosen a collection of bossa novas to perform in tribute of one of the founders of bossa nova, the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim. The selection of songs focuses solely on the works of Jobim, who received a Grammy Award in 1964 for the album that included the song Girl from Ipanema, perhaps his most well-known tune. In the spring, the Ensemble will continue to concentrate on Brazilian music encompassing the styles of Samba, Baiao and Partido Alto.